By Rebekah Castor (Syracuse, N.Y.) — Heating your home could be cheaper this year. According to National Grid, upstate New York customers can expect lower natural gas and electricity bills this winter.
“The wholesale price of these commodities is going down,” National Grid spokesperson , Virginia Limmiatis said.
National Grid is predicting heating bills to go down by 6.9%. Customers can expect to save $5.67 per month, translating to a savings of $24.34 for the winter. The average household is predicted to spend about $500 between the months of November and March.
John Bruckner, National Grid’s New York President, reminds customers to continue to use energy wisely to help lower your bill even more. He suggests using ENERGY STAR® light bulbs, turning off any item that uses electricity when not in use, and using cold water while washing clothes.
I spoke with several CNY residents asking them what they think of this year’s heating forecast. Many aren’t sure whether to believe it.
“Almost all of their statistics should have asterisks next to them,” Connor Federico of Syracuse said. “Last year I was charged over $100 more than national grid originally predicted. They have a monopoly up here and they know it.”
Whether bills will actually be lower or not, National Grid still provides payment plans for customers unable to pay in full. Households receiving public assistance may also qualify for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides financial aid.
“Pride stands in the way of people calling us to let us know they’re having trouble paying their bills,” Limmiatis said. “We want people to call us.”
